Confused......IDE and/or RAID

Hi,

I wonder if someone could help clarify an issue for me please.

Yesterday, I installed a new SSD (OCZ Vertex 2) as my C:. I also installed 2 x Samsung F3 Spinpoints as my E: in RAID0.

In order to install the 2 x Samsungs in a RAID0 configuration, in my BIOS (Award) I set the PCH SATA Contol Mode to RAID. I then configured the RAID in the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility and went ahead with installation of OS etc. Everything works beautifully, but I noticed at reboot in the POST screen that both the SSD and the Samsungs are controlled by the RAID driver.

I ran HHD Tune on the SSD and noticed that the average transfer rate was about 143MB/s. After doing some reading up, I rebooted, and in the BIOS changed the PCH SATA Control Mode to IDE. After rebooting, the RAID0 (the E drive) is no longer visible - the 2 Samsung disks are of course still available, but require reformating to use and no longer appear to be in a RAID configuration (they appear as two separate Samsung disks).

If I run HDD Tune on the SSD, now under IDE mode, I average 183MB/s (see attachement) implying for better performance, the SSD is better under IDE. The problem is the RAID0 is unavailable?

So, the question is:

In the BIOS, what settings do I need to change, in order for the SSD to be IDE, and the 2 x Samsungs to be in a RAID0? I seem to have missed something altogether.

Can anyone help me with this?

Thanks,
Golden

Read the motherboard manual. If it isn't with your CD, you can usually get it off the internet. It should have all the BIOS features listed out and explain what they do, and what settings you can change them to. Its a good start, and you gotta start somewhere

Thanks for the reply DustSailor.

I have read the motherboard manual, and followed the instructions to setup the RAID. What wasn't, and still ins't, clear to me is whether I need to select different modes for different disks, and if so, how I go about doing it.

I'm missing something fundamental here through a lack of knowledge, and unfortuantely the motherboard manual isn't going to help me. I'm hoping some more experienced users can point me in the right direction.

Regards,
Golden

I'm almost positive that you can, but honestly I've not heard about it or seen it done. My motherboard has Raid, IDE, and AHCI [options] for all the HDDs, so I can only assume that it is possible.

but yes, you will need to talk to someone who knows, or try it yourself. I may myself look into RAID

sounds fun

Though I thought I heard of a Raid with a backup HDD, but here i am speculating when all you want is answers :)

pbcopter said:

When set to RAID all drives are controlled by the RAID controller but those that are not part of the RAID are in AHCI mode

Ah! Excellent, thanks so much pbcopter. I suspected this was the case, but got confused by the POSt reporting the SSD was under RAID too....perhaps I misread that as it speeds by so fast.

I ran the ATTO benchmark and its far different (and more accurate?) than HDTune. I get exactly what the specifications say. See below.

Those links you added are excellent too!

+1 to you Sir

OK. Im still confused.

According to the image attached, my SSD (C) and HDD's (E) are controlled by the RAID, but the SSD is definately not in the HDD's RAID0 configuration. Is there a way to change the SSD to IDE without affecting the existing HDD RAID?

Golden

Hi bobkn. Thanks for the reply.

No, no particular reason at all for choosing IDE over AHCI. I would be happy to try AHCI if I could work out how.

What confuses me is setting that up without affecting the existing RAID. Under the Integrated peripherals section of my BIOS, I need to select the RAID controller for the HDD's, but I cannot see how to then go and choose AHCI for the SSD.

I hope Im making sense.

Thanks,
Golden